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COSRX vs Dr. Althea

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

COSRX and Dr. Althea are two popular Korean skincare brands founded in 2013 and 2014, respectively. COSRX is dearly loved for its expertly formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, masks, and more, which thoughtfully incorporate hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide to suit acne-prone skin and oily skin best. Meanwhile, Dr. Althea is widely beloved for thoughtful moisturizers, gentle cleansers, effective makeup removers, and nourishing serums driven by its soothing formulas that suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best. While both offer standout solutions for specific concerns, they differ in their primary formulation focuses and ideal skin types.

COSRX is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024.

koreajoongangdaily.combeautymatter.comprnewswire.com

Dr. Althea is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by The Pure Lab Co., Ltd..

doctoraltheaglobal.comdoctoralthea.co.kr

This page compares some of the most popular COSRX and Dr. Althea products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular COSRX vs Dr. Althea products

People Say

COSRXDr. Althea
  • Soothing and calming sensitive skin Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't dry out my face — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “skin doesn't feel stripped — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
    • “great for sensitive skin — Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum”
    • “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
  • Texture and skin smoothing Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
    • “absorbs beautifully — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “rich but non-greasy — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
  • Value, barrier, and additional benefits Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “dark skin friendly — COSRX Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen”
    • “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “strengthened my skin barrier — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “Innovative dial mechanism — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “woke up with soft, supple skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “gives a healthy glow — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
    • “consistently hydrated mornings — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
  • Acne and pore control Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “extremely gentle — COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner”
    • “helped to improve my acne after only 2 weeks — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
    • “cleared up my spots — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
    • “hydrating but light — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
  • Cleansing and lather Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “foam is rich and creamy — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “Removes sunscreen well — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “great for morning routine — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “removes all the oil — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
  • Packaging and size limitations Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Runs out fast — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “Hard to see remaining amount — Dr. Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm”
    • “bottle goes fast — Dr. Althea Amino Acid Gentle Bubble Cleanser”
    • “only 20mls... significantly less product — COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum”
  • Sticky or heavy finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
    • “Leaves a sticky film — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
    • “too nourishing for combo skin — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”
    • “left a moisturizing film — Dr. Althea Amino Gel Cleanser”
  • Caused breakouts and skin irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “too slimy and sticky — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “burned my skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
    • “broke me out — Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream”
    • “gave me cystic acne — Dr. Althea Barrier Cream”

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

COSRX vs Dr. Althea routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which is better?

COSRX is better for deep hydration and acne control, whereas Dr. Althea does better with soothing and calming sensitive skin and offering gentler cleansers. Both brands achieve equal results for skin smoothing, overall value, and barrier care. For dry skin specifically, Lovi rates Dr. Althea as Superior and COSRX as High.

What is the difference between COSRX and Dr. Althea?

COSRX is founded in 2013 and focuses on deep hydration and acne control, while Dr. Althea started in 2014 and excels in soothing and calming sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for dry skin?

For dry skin, Dr. Althea achieves a superior routine fit on this page, while COSRX reaches a high fit. Dr. Althea features gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers that reviewers mostly mention for dry skin care.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which cleanser is better?

For cleansing, Dr. Althea does better on cleansing and lather, with the products on this page offering gentle cleansers. COSRX also provides cleansers like the Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser, which fits sensitive skin at a Superior level.

Which is more affordable, COSRX or Dr. Althea?

The page does not provide pricing information or compare affordability between COSRX and Dr. Althea.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which brand offers better soothing and calming properties for sensitive skin?

Dr. Althea does better than COSRX at soothing and calming sensitive skin, according to reviewers on this page. COSRX also offers gentle options like its Pure Fit Cica Serum, which is rated Superior for sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which brand is superior for deep hydration and moisturization?

COSRX is the superior brand for deep hydration and moisturization. Review themes show that COSRX does better for deep hydration and moisturization.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: how do the two brands compare for acne and pore control?

For acne and pore control, COSRX does better than Dr. Althea according to the review themes on this page.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for oily skin?

For oily skin, COSRX offers superior routine fit compared to Dr. Althea. Reviewers note that COSRX excels in deep hydration and acne control for oily skin types.

COSRX or Dr. Althea: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing the moisturizers on this page, COSRX offers superior deep hydration and moisturization, whereas Dr. Althea excels in soothing and calming sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for sensitive skin?

COSRX is better for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit for sensitive skin as Superior compared to Dr. Althea's High. Reviewers also note that COSRX delivers deep hydration, which helps support sensitive skin.

COSRX or Dr. Althea for acne-prone skin?

Both COSRX and Dr. Althea provide a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. COSRX particularly stands out with effective acne control and clearing as an often-mentioned benefit.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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